City Manager's Weekly Info Bulletin 6/16/2017

Support Lakewood Farmers Market, shop at Whole Foods June 22

The city has partnered with Whole Foods Market in University Place to support its Farmers Market Healthy Bucks program.

Through the partnership Whole Foods Chambers Bay will dedicate 5 percent of its sales from June 22 to the city which will allow us to provide more Healthy Bucks to children in our community.

Through the Healthy Bucks program children 16 years old and under can purchase $2 worth of fruits and vegetables from market vendors. All they have to do is stop by the city booth at the market to pick up their Healthy Bucks, then walk around our market and pick out the fresh produce they want to buy.

Through this program we are not only providing our youth with the opportunity to buy fresh food, but we are teaching them the importance of healthy food choices.

This wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors like Whole Foods Market. The city is honored and excited to be one of the groups selected as a partner for the Whole Foods Market Community Support Days, which only happen four times a year.

Please consider helping us achieve our goal of supporting our youth and providing them with healthy food by shopping at Whole Foods Market Chambers Bay, 3515 Bridgeport Way W, University Place on June 22.

Thank you!

Fort Steilacoom Pavilion in the Park agreement before Council

For three years the city has worked with the Rotary Club of Lakewood to establish a community gathering space in Fort Steilacoom Park.

A series of public meetings were held, including a thorough community review process, which ultimately led to the design of a multi-use structure and a preferred location for the “Pavilion in the Park” project.

The proposed structure is roughly 1 acre and includes a stage, sound and lighting equipment and storage rooms. It also has access and park space to support exterior building needs, landscaping and spectator seating.

Estimated cost for developing this project is $750,000, of which $450,000 will come from the city’s lodging tax capital funds and $300,000 will come from cash and in-kind services from the Rotary Club of Lakewood.

The pavilion will provide a venue for community gatherings, ceremonies, performances, entertainment and special events.

The City Council is expected to review and vote on an agreement at its Monday meeting outlining the partnership with the Rotary Club of Lakewood and the plan moving forward to develop the pavilion.

Weekly Transportation update

South Tacoma Way: Steilacoom Boulevard to 88th Street: Night work is planned next week to do a number of items. Here’s the breakdown of what work is planned and road closures:

Grinding/Paving: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. South Tacoma Way will be closed between its intersection with 90th and 86th streets. Detour signs and business open signs will be posted to help people navigate the construction. Flaggers will be on site to help get customers to the businesses. The city is working with the contractor to also see the installation of two new traffic signals during these three nights to minimize the impact on businesses and traveling public.

Striping: Wednesday, Thursday and Monday (6/26) nights. One lane is expected to remain open in each direction during this work.

We will work as quickly as possible to restore full access and thank everyone for their patience while these improvements are completed.

Lakeview Avenue: Will be closed Friday (6/23) and Saturday (6/24) between Kendrick Street and Steilacoom Boulevard for striping. Sections of road will be closed starting at 8 p.m. The intersections of Lakeview Avenue and 108th Street and Lakeview Avenue and 100th Street will be closed around midnight Saturday.

108th Street (Main to Bridgeport): Work is substantially complete. The contractor is doing punch list items out of the roadway this week and next week.

Gravelly Lake Drive: 100th to Bridgeport: Contractor continues to install storm catch basins and pipe along both sides of the roadway.

Third annual Developer’s Forum a success

Developers, property owners and those interested in doing business in Lakewood attended the city's third annual Developer's Forum June 15 at the McGavick Center.

The morning included presentations by three developers currently building projects in the city - Seth Borman, Travis Hale and James Guerrero - as well as information from city building staff about work the city is doing to improve the permitting and building process to make it easier for developers to do business in Lakewood.

While detailing the various project's his architecture group has done in the city, architect James Guerrero said Lakewood was "significantly easier to work with" that other jurisdictions he’s worked with in Pierce County.

Guerrero noted in the past he would have put another city at the top of his list as the easiest to work with, but Lakewood has since clinched that position.

No Police Chief Zaro doesn’t want you to video your neighbors

The city learned earlier this week that a letter impersonating Lakewood Police Chief Mike Zaro was recently sent to some residents.

The contents of the letter identify a specific house as a drug house and encourage residents to take a stand against the activity.

This letter is fraudulent. The city of Lakewood and Lakewood Police Department would never send a letter like this.

If you have received this letter, please disregard and take no action based on its contents.

The city does mail information to residents from time to time, but information is always sent using official city letterhead or postcards. If the city needs to get a mass message out to residents it would be on official letterhead and accompanied by social media posts on Facebook and Twitter and would be written in a professional manner.

The city encourages people to report suspicious activity or perceived criminal activity to the Lakewood Police Department tip line at (253) 830-5049.

If residents have a question about the validity of communication from the city, please call City Hall at (253) 589-2489.

Marketing to the government

You’re in front of a contracting officer. Now what????

Washington PTAC and the City of Lakewood have teamed up to present a hands-on workshop for area small business owners.

In this interactive class we will work with you to create the basic marketing tools that you will need when meeting with government contracting officials. You will learn:

How to create an effective Capability Statement

How to network effectively

How to craft a 30 second elevator speech

Finding appropriate networking events

Who should attend: Small business owners who are trying to sell to government agencies. Registered attendees will receive a Capability Statement template prior to class. Laptops are encouraged.

Details: July 13, 9 to 11 a.m. at Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main Street SW (in Council Chambers)

Relay for Life

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the annual Relay for Life event last week at Harry Lang Stadium.

Volunteer with Lakewood

Do you like to give back to the community? Are you looking to get better connected to Lakewood? Have some free time you want to fill? Consider joining one of the city's community advisory boards. Board members often have experience or expertise they can lend, can meet on a monthly basis and can commit to serving a full term, or longer.

Descriptions of boards with openings:

Landmarks and Heritage Advisory Board: Members identify and actively encourage the conservation of historic resources by establishing and maintaining a register of historic landmarks, landmark sites, historic special review districts, and conservation districts, among other responsibilities. Two vacancies.

Public Safety Advisory Committee: Members provide citizen input and advice to the City Council in developing and monitoring public safety policies. The committee reports to the council and assists in assessing that department resources allow for compliance with city and department policies. Three vacancies.

Descriptions of each board and commission, meeting schedule and application form can be found online
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Upcoming Council meetings

All meetings start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Meetings are held in council chambers at City Hall, 6000 Main Street SW, Lakewood.